Where There's Smoke

(2024)

This series was inspired by and meant to accompany a conceptual series of a resin-cast fire alarms meant to be a comment on the ineffectual policies, and willful ignorance of climate change. Initially, I thought I'd more simply have large paintings of smoke, but I felt this was too literal, and too static. I utilized a special blend of bone black, iridescent gold, and raw sienna to warm up the black and grays in the works, and consequently, the blacks will have an effect much like gold-toned photographs. Like my oils, these works originated from normal landscape photographs, rather than relying on random process and pigment placement, which gives the works more of a sense of place, space, and depth.

32" X 22"
Acrylic on RivesBFK